My son is 3 and is congested especially at night. He wakes up a lot because it seems like the mucus drips down his throat. Any products he can use over the counter to help him at night?

Hi there !

There is this very useful technique to help children cough less by reducing the amount of mucus that flows from the nose to the throat. To do this, you will need a syringe (without a needle) and plain saline or distilled water.

Then, depending on the age of your child, the amount of water to use per nostril differs a little (between 3 mL and 10 mL per nostril). For technical details and the exact amount to use in your situation, see pages 6 and 7 of the following document (in French).

In the first 2 days, use this technique at a rate of about 5 times a day, then, in the following days, you can decrease to 2 times a day.

Most parents see dramatic improvement in symptoms within 48 hours.

Have a great night !

Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist